Inspiration from Existing Music Videos

Pink - Family Portrait

• The characters have had an influence on the narrative of my music video as there seems to be a younger and older self in Pink’s music video. The younger self seems to be narrating the storyline as Pink plays the older character. I have used a similar casting where there is an younger and older version of the character, however, the older character is narrating the storyline trying to share her wisdom to the younger self.

Christina Aguilera - Beautiful

• Camera shots at the beginning of the music video of objects that symbolise the mood and atmosphere of the music video at the start. I have taken the camera shot of a dying flower and other images from this. The dying flower can symbolise growth, however the significance of the flower dying can carry connotations of a person dying inside and if given the care and the attention can grow into something pretty and beautiful like the flower.



• This also has a main concept of not being happy with yourself and who you are. And the song sang by Christina Aguilera is a means of telling these people that they should be happy with who they are as they are “Beautiful, no matter what they say…” In my music video, the 13 year old is upset with her life and is not happy with who she is and the older self tries to change this and enlighten her that everything will be ok by trying to leave significant notes for her to see.


• Also, during the middle and end of the music video, there are multiple scenes of the different characters, who at the beginning of the music video were unhappy with themselves, looking into mirrors at themselves. This carries connotations of delving deep within themselves and “looking” inside them to see their true selves. This mirror scene I will also be using as my final scene in my music video as I feel that this will summarise my music video as the younger self will see her older self as a sign, as a moment of change, and will gain self belief and acceptance through this by looking deep within herself.

Corrine Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On

• This has an earthly, natural setting throughout the music video and for a part in my music video I have a similar setting of a park. A park landscape would carry the connotations of being down to earth and this is the type of image that I would like to promote my artist.

• In the scene at the park where a note is left by the older self for the 13 year old to find in my music video, I have decided to place the note on a tree. The tree suggests growth, which the younger self is experiencing and needs to accept. In the end of Put Your Records On music video, a single tree is used at the end and Corrine decorates it with red ribbon. She seems happier when she’s alone with the tree as a sign of a fresh, natural atmosphere.

Katy Perry - Fireworks

This storyline is a more recent version of the storyline running through the Christina Aguilera song of Beautiful. There are several characters in this music video carrying several storylines with a similar theme; a theme of self acceptance and self confidence. Although my music video doesn’t have as many storylines or characters, the theme is the same as at the end of my music video the younger self gains self acceptance in herself.

The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3m4e45bTo&ob=av3el

The Verve is usually classed as an all  Indie band and their music video for Bittersweet Symphony, is very typical of an indie music video as it follows a lot of the Indie conventions.

• The clothes that he is wearing is very casual and ordinary, and this is very typical for an indie artist. This costume suggests that he is an ordinary, average person just like his listeners. Also, by him not having outrageous costumes, it takes the concentration off him as a person and puts it on the music and song that he is singing.
• The concept of the music video is very simple as he is just walking down the street and is being bumped into by passerbys. This simple concept again doesn't distract the audience from the song as the song itself is very powerful.

Even though I want to promote my artist as an Indie artist as well as Pop, I will not follow these conventions stated above in The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony music video as I feel that in order for my artist to attract her audience, she will need to be fashionable, well groomed and that the music video should carry a concept. This aspect could appeal to the Pop side of my artist.